Automobile trunk



June 13, 1933. A, STRUCK r AL 1,913,862

' AUTOMOBILE TRUNK Filed April 14, 1950 5.2 54 Q I as, Maw

Fatented .Tune 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK A. STRUCK, OF GOLDEN, AND ALBERT REINHARDT, OF DENVER, COLORADO AUTOMOBILE TRUNK Application filed April 14, 1930. Serial No. 444,287.

This invention relates to a trunk, more particularly to the types of trunks designedto be carried upon an automobile. The pr ncipal object of the invention is to provide a trunk which can be vertically expanded so as to accommodate loads of varioussizes.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the trunk that after the load is in place the trunk can be contracted so as is to clamp the load and prevent rattling or vibration.

A further object of the invention is to provide an expansible trunk which will protect the contents regardless of the degree of expansion and which can be locked in either the expanded or contracted positions. I

A still further object of the inventlon is to provide a trunk of adjustable capacity which will be unusually strong at all polnts so that the sides or bottom can not become broken away regardless of the load carried.

Other objects and advantages reside n the detail construction of the invention whlch is designed for .simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed descriptlon of the invention reference is had to the accom panying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved trunk.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a vertical cross section through it the trunk illustrating it in the expanded po- The trunk comprises an outer casing 10 adapted to telescope over an inner container 11. The casing 10 is provided with a lid '12 hinged thereon by means of a suitable hinge 18. Locks 14 are employed for locking the lid 12 closed. A reinforcing band 15 surrounds the open bottom of the casing 10.

The container 11 is provided with a bottom 16 so that when the casing 10 is in place upon the container 11 a complete enclosure is formed. The casing is supported at any desired helght upon the container 11 by means of special set screws 17, which are threaded through the band 15 and engage the container 11.

In use, the operator draws the casing 10 upwardly sufiiciently far to enclose theload it is desired to carry and locks it in this position by tightening the set screws 17. After the load is in place, and the lid 12 closed, the operator may loosen the set screws 17 and force the casing 10 downwardly so as to securely clamp the lid 12 against the load before again tightening the set screws 17.

The set screws 17 are of special construc-v tion, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and are provided with a key opening 18 which may be of any desired shape such as square to receive a square key so that they can not be unscrewed by means of an ordinary wrench. This prevents access to the trunk after the locks 14c have been locked. I

It is desired to call attention to the unusual strength of the structure. The bottom 16 is held in place by means of a double lap in the side wall material as illustrated in Fig. 5. The side wall is first turned backwardly upon itself to form a downwardly projecting flange 19. The bottom 16 is hooked around this flange and the side wall material is then turned back under the bottom as shown at 20, so as to securely prevent the bottom from being forced from the trunk and also to prevent the side walls from being forced out-- wardly. The upper edge of the container 11 is turned downwardly as shown at 21, to prevent a sharp edge at this point and also to stiffen or reinforce the container edges.

The corners of the casing 10 are constructed as shown in Fig. 6. That is, the end walls and side walls are hooked into each other by means of a double hook fold 22 so that they can not become separated and so that they 'form a slight projection on the interior which 5 acts to guide the casing downwardly over the container 11 without the two being in contact over their entire area.

To further reinforce the casing 10 metallic bands are passed completely over the lid 10 12 and downwardly across the front of the casing 10. These bands stiffen the plates of the casing and prevent distortion or vibration.

If desired the downwardly turned edges 15 of the container 11 may be employed for holding a felt, rubber, fibre, or other suitable insulation or padding on the interior of the trunk.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is A trunk comprising: an open-topped container; a casing arranged to telescope about so said container; a hinged lid on said casing; a

metallic band surrounding the bottom of said casing; and set screws threaded through said band so that their points will engage the container so as to support the casing at any desired height thereon.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures' FREDERICK A. STRUCK. w ALBERT REINHARDT. 

